Residents used the Jan. 9 public-comment period to press the township committee on two related matters: the committee’s 6 p.m. start time for meetings and a forthcoming school-district forum on a $92 million bond referendum.

Regina Desenza of Sunset Drive asked why meetings are held at 6 p.m., saying earlier start times prevent many working residents—including commuters—from attending. Desenza told the committee that a community information forum on the Lacey Township School District’s $92,000,000 referendum has been scheduled for Jan. 28 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the school auditorium and urged residents to attend and prepare to vote on the March 11 referendum; she also encouraged residents to request mail-in ballots if needed.

Why it matters: Meeting time affects public accessibility. The $92 million referendum, which the resident said follows a recent 9.9% school tax increase, would be a major local finance decision if put to voters.

Committee response and deliberation: Committee members said the 6 p.m. time was chosen because they believe it yields strong attendance and noted that residents may also submit comments by email to the township clerk. One committee member said changing the meeting time would draw a similar set of objections from other residents who prefer the current schedule. The committee agreed to consider resident concerns but did not set a different meeting time at Jan. 9.

Resident concerns raised during public comment included sidewalk snow removal on Deerhead Lake Road and requests for more timely town communications; committee members acknowledged the concerns and said staff would follow up. Don Lewis, a longtime resident, praised the town and asked about community holiday decorations; another resident thanked volunteers for a wreaths program and reported distribution numbers.

Ending: The committee closed public comment after hearing multiple speakers and then voted unanimously to convene an executive session to discuss personnel, contracts and pending litigation and real-estate matters.